The Houston family is down and out with strep so today I am posting this video of Nick Jonas (such a cutie) and Larry King discussing Nick's T1.

Enjoy.








This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Are you a member? Don't know what I'm talking about? 


Check it out:


The Blue Heel Society

About: 

This organization is dedicated to all  people living with, caring for, or interested in diabetes. The Blue Heel Society was formed on November 13th, the eve of World Diabetes Day, 2011 by a dedicated trio of spirited advocates who committed themselves to promoting awareness, pursuing the continued fight for a cure, highlighting obstacles people diagnosed with diabetes are faced with, and promoting advocacy for the diabetic community as a whole.




The Blue Heel Society accomplishes this NOT by raising funds, but by fueling our crusade with the strength, dedication, and passion of our partners.

Our Mission:




The mission of The Blue Heel Society is to deliver a clear, united voice via organized assembly within our own affiliation, and also at local and national gatherings, events, conventions, and other venues, helping to dispel myths, offer education and to champion the needs of people affected by diabetes.

We choose to stand up, be seen, and be heard in our Blue Heels.


Meet the Co-Founders 

"LEXI":
Mother of two amazing super-heroes, wife to my better half, JDRF Walk Chair/Volunteer, and SO much more. Strong advocate for Type 1 Diabetes, Alopecia Areata, & Congential Adrenal Hyperplasia.

"T":
35 years as a Type 1 Diabetic.  Endurance mountain bike racer, blogger, bear dodger, and tech guy.

"DWOWW":




Don't wear heels?  That's ok --- neither do I!






Kick it in your blue shoes . . . 






This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Even when Nate was 1st diagnosed and I had no idea WTF I was doing I had an overwhelming desire to at least make it appear as if I knew what I was doing.  I think it is the mommy in me that wanted to make people think that everything was ok --- everything was just fine.  I've always been pretty cool and confident and I didn't want anyone to know that I was scared to death.

I even remember someone telling me a few days after Nate was diagnosed that it would become second nature and that she knew a family that had been living with type 1 for years and it was no big deal.  Wow!  I thought --- I can't wait to get to that point --- no big deal?  Second nature?

Bring it on.

Yea --- I'm here to tell ya --- 2 years and 2 months later.  That's a load of crap.  Yes, it is not quite as overwhelming as it was before but it's certainly still a big deal and it's really not that easy ----- NO MATTER HOW EASY I MAKE IT LOOK --- it's still hard.  I am just a mom --- I am NOT a pancreas.  Yea, I read the book, Think Like a Pancreas and it helped but I'm still not thinking that much like a pancreas.  That pancreas has a freaking hard job.

Does this look like I'm thinking like a damn pancreas?




It's a hard job for sure.



I encourage everyone to read this article on CNN Health - Artificial Pancreas could be 'holy grail' for type 1 diabetics.

And then sign the Artificial Pancreas Petition here, please.




This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Thanksgiving has put me a little behind and now Nate is sick.  Little man is running a fever and has a terrible cough.  This is pretty much the only time he will snuggle with me anymore so please accept my apologies but I'm keeping this short and sweet so I can go snuggle with my sweet little boy.

I thought tonight I would post some of my favorite saying and words to live by (thank you, Pinterest!).
So, here you go . . .


















Snuggle time . . .



This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Today I am using one of my 'get out of the post free' days so that I can enjoy spending time with my family this Thanksgiving day.

Happy Thanksgiving!










This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Welcome to Holland

by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience, to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. 


It's like this...


When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo's David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland ?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland ?? I signed up for Italy! All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills... and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say: "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things... about Holland.

Copyright © 1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley
All Rights Reserved

I've learned to love Holland.  I love all of the amazing people in Holland and I am a stronger woman because of my life here in Holland.






This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

My friend, Scott Kasper is doing something pretty amazing and I am so happy to share it with you here.  


Scott and I 'met' shortly after Nate was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  I read this post by Scott on Six Until Me and stalked him until I found him ---- not only did I adore his photography but also his fantastic way of positively sharing his family's story of living without limits.  Scott and his wife, Rachel have 3 boys, 2 of which have type 1. Both Rachel and Scott raised over $15,000 this year for JDRF by participating in the JDRF Ride to Cure. Aaaaaamazing!


Scott and his friend, Michael Chadwick have now founded Hope on 2 Wheels which will promote the need to find a cure for type 1 through cycling.  Please see below for more information on Hope on 2 Wheels and then go 'like' their Facebook page to show your support. 

Description	There are approximately 3 million Americans living with Type 1 Diabetes. More than 40 children are newly diagnosed with T1D every single day! According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), approximately 1 out of every 20 people with T1D will DIE from low blood sugar. Hope on 2 Wheels riders will work to help raise awareness of JDRF activities aimed at prevention, improved treatment, and ultimately a cure for T1D
General Information	In June 2012, a group of cyclists will leave JDRF headquarters in New York City and ride non-stop, nearly 250 miles, to Washington, DC. Our ride will be a symbolic journey on which we will travel with a message of hope! We HOPE that the FDA hastens the process to approve new and innovative therapies and devices, not the least of which is the Artificial Pancreas! We HOPE that Congress continues to fund the various research initiatives aimed at prevention, improved treatment, and ultimately the cure for Type 1 Diabetes. We HOPE that our efforts in completing this physical challenge will raise awareness about the struggles that our children face every day! We HOPE that our efforts in completing this physical Challenge will raise awareness about the JDRF Ride to Cure program (http://www.ride.jdrf.org/) and the amazing contribution of those riders toward funding the cure for T1D!! Our HOPE travels on 2 Wheels!!!
Mission	Our mission is to promote awareness of Type 1 Diabetes in an effort to help JDRF, through its Ride to Cure program, raise money for improved therapies and ultimately the cure.
Awards	We're not doing this for any awards...we're doing this to cure our children!
Products	If you like what we're doing, please consider getting on a bicycle and signing up for one of the amazing JDRF Ride to Cure weekends. If you can't join a ride, please consider making a donation by sponsoring a rider! http://www.ride/jdrf.org

SO ---- GO!  Go 'LIKE' them on Facebook so you can keep up with what they are up to and let's all cheer them on in!!!   https://www.facebook.com/hopeon2wheels


Also, if you are looking for a new medical ID, visit the website of Scott's wife, Rachel, at RescueMeIDs! 




This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

I so often hear parent of children with diabetes say the words . . . he is a normal boy and can do anything anyone else can do.  I'm guilty of uttering those words myself.  With all of the chatter about 1 in 20 I am a little worried that people around me may get the wrong idea.  So, for the record Nate is a very healthy little boy.  Besides diabetes there is nothing else ailing him.  He can do just about anything any other little boy can do.

Well, EXCEPT FOR WHEN HE CAN'T.

As much as I like to say that he can there are times when he actually cannot be like any other little boy . . .

Nate CAN eat anything he wants and we don't restrict him on much but unfortunately he cannot eat anything with carbohydrates if his blood sugar is over 190. There's no law against it --- it's just the number we try to stay below so if he's already there then we need to wait until his blood sugar is lower to feed him.  Sadly, sometimes this can take hours.  No, we don't starve him but we do try and offer carb free options.  Not always a big hit with a 3-year old!

Nate can eat anything he wants for breakfast we just need to know what he wants to eat and how much he will eat of it about 30 minutes before he can actually eat it.  Yea - he's 3.  It's not always easy to distract a 3 year old for 30 minutes after they wake up hungry and wanting to eat or figure out how much of what he will eat but we do it each and every single day.

Nate loves gymnastics and is quite the little gymnast.  I'm pretty sure he is Olympics bound. He can run and jump and climb and swing and bounce and stretch and do everything the other little boys are doing except when his blood sugar is 43. When he blood sugar is low he really can't do much of anything. Especially gymnastics.

Nate is a very sweet, kind-hearted little boy.  He loves to sing, dance and give him mama big bear hugs.  I love those big bear hugs!!  He can be a very well behaved little boy except for when he can't.  Sometimes his blood sugar is too high and it makes him feel really bad and sometimes his blood sugar drops from high to low rapidly and he cannot control his behavior or emotions. When this happens he loses all control and to someone on the outside it might look like he is having the mother of all tantrums but sadly they are out of his control.

Nate really is a very normal little boy but he does have diabetes so the fact of the matter is there are times when he just can't do things that others can do.  These are the times when I wish I could take his diabetes from him.  Unfortunately, I can't but what I can do is keep advocating for type 1 and asking you to do the same.

Please sign the Artificial Pancreas petition and help those living with diabetes at http://bit.ly/nQY3QM!'







This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

What the FLOCK?  He's at it again . . .

Noah, The Diabetes Dude flocked NY again.  Check out this link to see all of the amazing pictures!
Nate and I couldn't make it this year --- maybe someday!!   But we were there in spirit and oh yea on the Kodak Jumbotron . . .





A huge thank you to Noah and his awesomely supportive family.  Super Nate and the rest of the family think you rock!!



Keep calm and FLOCK on!!





This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

1. I leave the Dexcom sensor in for as long as possible.


2. I would leave the OmniPod on too if I could.  Damn 3 day rule.


3. I only change the lancet once a day.  We have a lot of extra lancets.


4. I don't like lows but I hate highs.  They totally stress me out and I feel anxious until he is back in range.


5. I rage bolus.


6. I often end up feeding the insulin and I am ok with that.


7. I SWAG carbs a lot.


8. I feed my children 1) artificial sweeteners and 2) red dye.  Nate loves him some red kool-aid.


9. I occasionally sleep through the night time alarms and wake up in a cold sweat.


10. When I am really tired I put Nate in bed with me so the night time checks are easier.


11. I count carbs for all 3 kiddos.


12. I advocate hard for T1 awareness but have found that since Nate's dx I do not like to make new friends. I hate that awkward part where I have tell then about T1 or they stare in horror as I check a bg.  


13. As an advocate I am ashamed to say that sometimes I just roll my eyes instead of educating.  Sometimes it's just not worth it.  #idiots.


14. Sometimes I still cry.


15. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself.


16. Sometimes I don't.


17. I wish I had someone that could help me 100% with Nate's diabetes care.


18. I take that back ---- I'm too much of a control freak but it would be nice if someone besides Jim and I took the initiative to learn how to do it all.


19. I don't always check a bg before a bolus.  


20. I would live in a commune with other D Families and have a sister wife as long as she took the night time    checks!  :)


21. Ok, we could rotate them.


22. I think sometimes God has given me more than I can handle.


23.  I am a diabetes supply hoarder.  Seriously.


24. I do pod changed while he sleeps. Just did one.


25. I always forget to wipe the top of the insulin bottle with alcohol.


26. I am addicted to Pinterest. I'm not sure that has anything to do with diabetes.


27. Facebooks friends make me happy.  Especially when they rally around me in support.


28. I should be sleeping right now.


29. I never want sympathy or pity. I don't need it.  I promise.  I'm just educating.


30. I yell at my kids more than I should. I don't think I did this before D.


31. I fell asleep on the couch tonight while watching TV.  What am I 80?


32. I secretly resent my friends that live a much more care free life.  


33. I lose my temper more than I should.


34. I get really excited when our diabetes supplies arrive each month.


35. I still get nervous before an endo appointment.


36. I worry that I'm screwing my kids up.


37. Sometimes I just wipe Nate's finger on my shirt before a bg check and call it clean.


38. I slept through the alarm again last night and I also apparently turned off the TV in my sleep and have no recollection of this event.  He woke up at a lovely 97.


39.  I am terrified that Nate may disown me one day for posting his bum on my blog so much.


40. I sometimes discourage certain food just so I don't have to deal with diabetes. #macncheese


41. I am hopeful for a cure but I'm not counting on it.


42. I have a couple D-Mom crushes. 


43. I don't wear a cape, I am not a super hero, or a super mom I often feel quite inadequate and wish I did have a cape that would make it all a little easier. 


44. I rarely check for ketones.


45. I hate it when people ask me how Nate's numbers/levels/sugars are ---- it's annoying and none of your damn business.  Oh and like you even know what you are talking about anyway.  Blah!


46. I am really quite a happy person although you might not be able to tell from this blog or my diabetes rants.  


47. I laugh a lot.


48. I freaking hate it when Dexcom alarms for a low during nap time.


49. I've been sitting here trying to think of more and I think that's all I've got for today.


More than a D-Mom:


A-wesome Mom
B-usy Mom
C-rohn's & UC Mom
D-ynomite Mom
E-mma's Mom
F-unny Mom
G-racious Mom
H-ot Mama
I-rritable Mom
J-ustin Timberlake lovin' Mom
K-kainotophobia-Mom
L-azy Mom (occasionally)
M-ore than a Mom.  
N-ate's Mom
O-bsessive Mom
P-ancreatic Mom
Q-uite a good Mom
R-owdy when drunk Mom (???)
S-ophie's Mom
T-ired Mom
U-nbelievably tired Mom
V-ery Tired Mom --- ok I think you get the point.
W-axed Mom
X-rated Mom ---- ummmm that's a stretch.
Y-outhful Mom
Z-ealous Mom




Ok - that's all I've got for you today, folks!


Until tomorrow . . . 







This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

I found these pictures of Sophie and Nate on my phone today - sweet, happy, little faces!


Rockin' the WDD t-shirts yesterday -



That is all.


This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

I'm going to start with posting our WDD Postcard Exchange Postcard ---